Coupling for electric bell-cords



(No Model.)

H. B. COX.

GOUPLING EOE ELECTRIC BELL GOEDS.

.No. 340,426. Y Patented Apr. 20, 1886.v l I N4 PETERS. Phono-mhcgmpner, wumngmn, D. c,

MT1-3D STATES HARRY B. COX, OF

PATENT CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,426, dated Am-i1 20, 18E6.

Application filed January 26, 1856. Serial No. 189,810. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. Cox, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Couplings for Electric Bell-Cords; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings', and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to electric bell-cords for railway-cars, and has for its object to furnish a coupling for such cords of that class in which the circuit is normally open, which coupling shallbe so constructed that a pull on the cord at any point will canse the coup-A ling` to close the circuit.

Vith this object in view my invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described, and afterward specilicall y pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of a bell-cord provided with 011e member of my coupling. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of an adjoining section of the cord having the other member of the coupling attached. Fig. 3 is a view of two adjoining sections of cord having my improved coupling attached, and coupled in its normal position, the circuit being open. Fig. 4t is a silnilar view of the same devices, the cord being stretched and the circuit closed. Fiv. 5 is a transverse sectional View, on an enlarged scale, on the line .c a' of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a similar view on the lineg/ y, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a similar view on the-line z z of Fig. 4, showing also the front of the circuit-closer, all these sections being taken as'looking in the direction of the respective arrows; and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the circuit-closer.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A marks one section,and B an adjoining section, of a bell-cord, which may be of any desirable length, the length of a car being preferred, each section being composed of two wires or conductors kept insulated from each other by any suitable means-as, for instance, by being incased in separate rubber tubes, as shown at C C', the wire ot' section A being marked a c', and those ot' section B, I) and b.

Each end of every section of cord is provided with one member of myimproved coupling, the opposite ends of each section having different members, so that any two sections may be made to adjoin and couple readily, althoughthis arrangement is not absolutely essential.

D D are larger rubber tubes, or, it may be, tubes of any suitable insulating material. These tubes receive the wires c a and b b', respectively, and their inclosing insulatingtubes C C, the wires passing entirely through, while the inclosing-tubes pass only partially through.

Beyond the ends of the tubes C C', within the tubes D D, the wires are separated by blocks E E, of insulating material, which are in Figs. 5 and 6.

Secured upon one side of the insulatingblock 1*),and held thereon by the inclosing-tube D, is a circuit-closer, F, constructed of a single sheet ot' metal by stamping into shape, or cast of a single piece, if desired.

It is provided Awith a downward-projecting ange, f, at one side, parallel with its length and in the direction ot' the wire, which may be wholly or partially inclosed within the tube D. It has also a transverse downward projecting flange, F, at its outer end, with laterally-projecting ends f and f, making the iiange longer than the width of the circuitcloser. This end flange is narrower at the end f than at the endf, the edge being cut at an incline.

In the-tube D', and held by the block E', is a ilat spring, G, which projects beyond the dent with the space between the projecting ends of the wires I) b.

The outer ends of wires a a are formed into hooks 7L h', and the outer ends ofwires b binto rings or eyes i t", in which these hooks engage when the cord is coupled.

The operation of my improved coupling may be described as follows: Normally, the wires of a cord for a whole train-such as the also inclosed within the tubes D D', as shown' end of the tube above, and in a plane eoinciwires a b and a b-being hooked together two continuous lines insulated from each other extend from the engine to the rear of the train, one bei'ng attached to each electrode of an elec# tric-bell mechanism in the engine, the circuit being open and the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position the circuit-closer i F is upheld, out ofeontaet with the wires b b', by means of the spring G, the two members of the coupling lying at aslight angle to each other.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, the side flange of the circuit-closer is in Contact, normal1y,with the wire a. Now, in order to close the circuit, it must be brought into contact with t-he line composed of the wires a b, Src. This is done by pulling the cord at any point in its length, the effect of which is to bring the two members of the coupling into the position shown in Fig. Li, which is in straight line, or substantially so. In this operation the wide ends f of the iiange F of the circuit-closer F are brought into contact with the wire b', as shown in Fig. 7, thus closing the circuit and causing the bell to sound.

Instead of the ilangef, a metal pin or plug may be driven in to connect the circuit-closer with wire a.

The cord may be pulled at any point, and as soon as straightened the circuit will be closed. Should a car break loose, the cord will of course straighten before it breaks, and thus give the alarm. 4

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 4ent ofthe United States, is-

l. In combination, the members A B of the coupling, the double wires traversing eaeh,the wires of one member having eyes and those of the other having hooks, the circuitcloser F, normally in contact with one of said .double wires, and a spring by which it is held out of contact with the other, as set forth.v

2. In combination, the two lines of wires a b and a b', the circuit-closer having anges fand F, and the spring G, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination, the wires a b a b', the

insulating-blocks E E', the tubes D D', the u circuit-closer F, andthe spring G, as set forth.

4. In combination, two lines of wire insulatedfrom each other, the circuit-closer F, having flange f normally in Contact with one line, and a ilange, F', and a spring for holding said flange above the wires by maintaining the two members of the coupling at an angle to each other, whereby the straightening of the cord brings said flange F into contact with the other line, thus closing the circuit, as Set forth.

5. In combination, the insulated wires, the eireuiteloser normally in contact with one line thereof and having the ,flange F', with beveled or inclined edge, making it wider at the end nearest the other line, and the springwhich normally holds it ont of contact with said second line, but permits it to be brought into contact therewith to close the circuit by pulling on the cord, as set forth.

In testimony that I lclaim the ibregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY B. COX.

\Vitnesses: A

C. B. FoRsn, R. F. HEATH. 

